The SpeedPuck is a good training tool, but other than the "gee-whiz" factor, the output it produces is the same as any decent GPS device. There are aps for iPhones that do the same thing. All you need is a waterproof case.

The cost/benefit of the tapered mainsheet is marginal. It really only makes a significant difference if you (or your crew) are working the main a lot upwind. I can see doing that in a race (but there's that class legal thing again), but it's a lot of work to do just sailing around.

Saildriod and some of the others are neat.. (playing with a free beta version of "Sailing Tactician" now) but I like the iphone app because it allows you to log the location of the committee boat and pin... and then gives distance and time to the line... I doubt it would be that useful for me in an actual regatta... (or legal ?) But for training... What a great tool!

Truthfully, it's better that you develop a sense of how far away from the line (in seconds) and your head on a swivel than have your head down looking at a phone during the last 15-20 seconds before a start.

Truthfully, it's better that you develop a sense of how far away from the line (in seconds) and your head on a swivel than have your head down looking at a phone during the last 15-20 seconds before a start.

There is no disagreeing with that.

I found what is was looking for though in a Android app. "sailracer"

When out playing I can now set a line. Mark the line with gps and make practice starts. The app has a function to tell me how late I was.

So the phone rides out of site, and using traditional and legal tools I make my practice starts. Then I can check the phone and tell if I really had my timing right or not.

I know last year practicing with the phone displaying compass and boat speed really helped shorten the learning curve of being able to go faster without those aids

so to answer my own question.. General rules16.3 Compasses with brackets or electronic devices that provide timing and heading memory but which do not transmit, transfer or receive data are permitted. The use of navigation and speed metering equipment is illegal unless specifically allowed in the individual boat rules or by the Notice of Race for the particular event or regatta.

I've had a speed puck on board at a Hobie 20 NA's.I had it set on compass since we were sailing offshore and wanted to know shifts. Truthfully though it didn't help much as the loose nut on the helm wasn't very good and the combined crew weight was wayyyy over minimum.

I'm giving serious thought to the idea of an old iPhone and a water proof case.

The question about speed always comes up during distance races. During a long reach it would be nice to know how fast the boat is going.

The idea of a tapered main came to mind because double trapped upwind I, the crew, saw on the main a lot to keep the boat flat. Sometimes the boat will shudder when I let the mainsheet out and I think it is binding somehow as it tries to run through the pulleys. Given the cost of a tapered main I'll try some McLube and see if that makes any difference.

With regards to the 8:1 being class legal we very rarely race against other 20(s). We only make it to a few Hobie sanctioned regattas put on by the Arizona fleets and for many years now we have been the only H20. Because the number of boats has declined in recent years the Hobie and Multihull fleets are starting to combine events and we've started racing with the Mulithull , Porthmouth, fleet instead getting thrown in with the 18(s).

When the decision was made to upgrade to an 8:1 system no consideration was given to being class legal because we're almost never in a situation where it is a concern.

Calling all mountain and west coast H20(s)! Consider the H66/514 spring and fall regattas in sunny Rocky Point Mexico. If you show up and I don't have a class legal set of blocks you win, maybe